The Office of Work-Life was created in July when Siebert Rapoport joined the university as director of the office. The Work-Life Task Force worked to create the office as part of the university’s strategic plan.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2004) --In celebration of National Work-Life Month, the University of Kentucky’s Office of Work-Life held a “Life is a Balancing Act!” seminar and a Work-Life Information Fair Oct. 19. The seminar, presented by Linda Siebert Rapoport, director of the Office of Work-Life, focused on three work-life balancing goals:

Identify top life goals

Build work, self and home relationships

Commit and follow through to results

“Life is a dynamic big picture and balance will vary over time,” Siebert Rapoport said. “It is not just about a to do list; it’s about what gives us satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment.”

During the seminar, Siebert Rapoport emphasized the importance of balancing time between “thinking, doing and playing.”

“You don’t want one area of your life, such as work, to only focus on doing,” she said. “It’s the balance between the three that is important.”

Mary Anne Szeluga, information technology trainer at UK Hospital, attended the session to gain more knowledge on work-life balance. “I feel a lot of stress, and I feel it is time to take a look at how I can balance everything,” she said.

Some attendees drove to the UK campus from extension offices for the seminar and information fair, including Judy Hisel-Rose, staff assistant at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Service.

“It is such a timely topic with so many people struggling to balance work and life,” said Hisel-Rose. “If you can get any pointers on achieving that balance, you become empowered.”

The Office of Work-Life was created in July when Siebert Rapoport joined the university as director of the office. The Work-Life Task Force worked to create the office as part of the university’s strategic plan.

“You have our promise that we will use the work-life program as an appropriate mechanism to make the university one of the best places to work,” said Frank Butler, acting executive vice president for administration and finance and vice president of medical center operations.

Siebert Rapoport reiterated Butler’s comments, “It is our common goal to be known as a great place to work in Lexington and Kentucky.”

The event was sponsored by the Office of Work-Life, Elder Care, and Wellness/Health Literacy Program. For more information, contact the Office of Work-Life at (859) 257-9555 ext. 182.